2011 BOAT SHOW PREVIEW • BAVARIA CRUISER 32 •

The 32 has an in-mast furling mainsail and a small roller furling jib. The jib is only 108 percent of the fore-triangle and sheets inside the shrouds. With tight sheeting angles, the boat sails to windward like a dream and tacks inside 80 degrees. Off the wind, the 32 is very easily driven and offers excellent speeds when broad reaching.

Down below, the 32 is huge for a boat of this size. The master cabin has a large double berth tucked aft under the cockpit and a smaller double cabin forward for kids or guests. The benches in the saloon can double as berths, too. The galley is aft at the foot of the companionway ladder with the aft-facing chart table next to it. The L-shaped dinette will seat four for dinner.

A great starter cruiser for a young family or a perfect downsize for an older couple who want to simplify their sailing life, the Bavaria Cruiser 32 offers great sailing qualities and a lot of living space below.

Specifications: LOA 32’9”; LWL 29’0”; Beam 11’3”; Draft 4’11”; Displ. 11,464 lbs.; Sail area 549 sq. ft. For more information, call 855-222-1120 or visit www.bavariayachts.com.

BAVARIA CRUISER 36 • Like its little sister, the Bavaria Cruiser 36 feels much larger than its length might imply. In fact, this boat feels bigger when stepped aboard, when it is hit by a puff of wind, and when you go below into the cabin.

The 36 has the same style rig as the 32, with an in-mast furling mainsail and a small jib that sheets inside the shrouds. Because the headsail is small, the boat is easy for a couple to tack and the sail can often be trimmed without having to grind the sheet winch.

The cockpit has long bench seats and the backs are ergonomically shaped to give lumbar support for comfort. Like all of the Bavaria Cruiser fleet, the 36’s transom folds down to create a large platform aft for sunning, swimming, donning SCUBA gear or climbing into the dinghy.

The 36 comes in either a two-cabin, one-head layout or a three-cabin, one-head plan. The first will probably appeal to couples who sail with friends, while the latter will be a good layout for a family. The boat has only one head, but the compartment is large and has a partition that converts it into a shower.

The interesting thing about the new Bavaria line is that owners have a lot of options when they spec out their new boats. You can choose from three different wood styles, floor patterns and numerous fabrics and colors. Bavaria has the capacity to build 3,000 boats a year, but they build each to its owner’s own personal requirements.

The Cruiser 36 will make a great family cruising boat that is small enough to be affordable but large enough to really be a floating home away from home.

Specifications: LOA 37’1”; LWL 32’5”; Beam 12’0”; Draft 5’4”; Displ. 15,432 lbs.; Sail area 742 sq. ft. For more information, call 855-222-1120 or visit www.bavariayachts.com.

The BAVARIA CRUISER 40 takes the company’s theme of large interiors in boats that sail very well and really puts it to great use. The 40 comes with only one accommodation plan—a three-cabin, two-head layout that emphasizes comfort.

The 40’s rig is proportionally slightly taller and larger than that of the 36 and thus the boat has a bit more sail power. This boat will sail at 8 knots in 12 knots of wind, so you get the idea.

The cockpit is large and laid out for easy sailing and outdoor living. With twin wheels, you always have a good view forward while steering or maneuvering around a marina. Plus, twin wheels open the aft end of the cockpit so you have direct access to the huge aft platform that is formed when the transom is folded down.

The interior has the galley along the port side of the saloon with a dinette that seats six to starboard. There is a good-sized chart table aft of the dinette. With almost seven feet of headroom throughout the interior and plenty of overhead hatches and ports in the cabin sides and hull sides, the interior is flooded with natural light and extremely well-ventilated.

The 40 will be plenty of boat for many couples or families since the sleeping cabins are so large, the heads so roomy, and the dinette and cockpit table well-designed for meals in all weather. Plus, the 40 sails very well indeed.

Specifications: LOA 4’6”; LWL 35’3”; Beam 13’0”; Draft 5’5”; Displacement 19,135 lbs.; Sail area 883 sq. ft. For more information, call 855-222-1120 or visit www.bavariayachts.com.

Bavaria builds three larger Cruisers—the 45, 50 and 55—but of these, only the CRUISER 45 will be in the U.S. this year.

The 45 is a big boat for a 45-footer. In fact the transom and after sections of the hull are so wide that Farr Yacht Designs equipped the boat with twin rudders to go with the twin wheels in the cockpit. This configuration means that one rudder is always in the water and fully functioning even when the boat is heeled over and clawing to windward. Twin rudders also make the 45 sail as if it were on rails, with fingertip control at all times.

The 45 has the same simple and efficient rig as the smaller boats, which drives it well even in light breezes. The cockpit is huge and has a drop-leaf table that will seat eight adults for a meal. The chartplotter can be installed neatly on the after end of the table, so it can be seen from both helms. The transom on the 45 has an electric motor to raise and lower it so you don’t throw out your back hoisting it into place. The platform is large enough for several people to sunbathe.

Down below, the 45 can be arranged with either a three-cabin, three-head plan or a four-cabin, three-head layout. The galley runs along the saloon’s port side and offers an acre of counter space. To starboard, the dinette wraps around a handsome dining table that will also accommodate eight for dinner. The chart table just aft of the dinette faces aft and has a nifty folding seatback that is part of the dinette.

The 45 will be a good family cruiser or will fit very nicely into a charter fleet. The cabins are large and comfortable, the living spaces huge and airy, and the eating arrangements great for crowds. The Cruiser 45 is a true liveaboard yacht.

Specifications: LOA 46’10”; LWL 41’8”; Beam 14’3”; Draft 5’8”; Displ. 27,777 lbs.; Sail area 1,151 sq. ft. For more information, call 855-222-1120 or visit www.bavariayachts.com.

BENETEAU OCEANIS 41 & 45 • This fall, Beneteau will unveil two new Oceanis models that carry on the Oceanis cruising traditions while incorporating some truly innovative design features to make the boats easier to sail and more comfortable to live aboard. The most notable feature in the new design is the high cockpit arch that anchors the main sheet and provides a rigid frame for a dodger and other cockpit enclosures. Both boats are truly set up for indoor-outdoor living, so the cockpits are huge and access up and down the companionway ladder is excellent.

The cockpits have twin wheels and an innovative folding transom system that fully encloses the cockpit when underway, then folds down electrically to form a swim platform when at anchor. Designed by Finot-Conq, the 41 and 45 have thoroughly modern rigs with the mast set fairly far aft and the headsail reduced to a slightly overlapping jib that sheets inboard of the side stays, which in turn have been moved outboard to the gunnel. With tight sheeting angles, the boats promise to be handy and close-winded while being easy to tack and jibe. For off-the-wind sailing, a reacher or asymmetrical chute will really add fun and power.

The Oceanis 41 has three accommodation plans to choose from. The two-cabin, one-head version offers a good quarter cabin aft and a large V-berth forward; this plan has a huge sail locker and storage area under the port cockpit seat. The three-cabin, one-head plan uses the sail locker space for a second aft cabin. The three-cabin, two-head version tucks a second head into the forward cabin, which replaces the small desk or vanity found in the other accommodation plans. In all three layouts, the after head has a separate shower stall. The saloon remains the same in all three versions, with the L-shaped galley aft to port and the dinette forward to starboard.

The Oceanis 45 is also offered with three optional accommodation plans. The two-cabin, two-head version has the same large storage area aft as seen in the 41. The three-cabin, two-head plan replaces the storage area aft with a second aft cabin. And, the three-cabin, three-head design equips each of the three cabins with its own en suite head; in this version, the shower stall in the aft head has been replaced with an expanded dinette storage compartment. Both of the new boats are being built in Beneteau’s plant in Marion, South Carolina, so they are truly American boats.

The new designs will be fast, weatherly and very comfortable to live aboard. And they offer the great value that Beneteau is known for worldwide.

Oceanis 41 specifications: LOA 41’9”; LWL 38’1”; Beam 13’9”; Draft 6’9”; Displ. 18,386 lbs. Oceanis 45 specifications: LOA 45’5”; LWL 42’10”; Beam 14’9”; Draft 7’1”; Displ. 21,054 lbs.

For more information, call 843-629-5309 or visit www.beneteauusa.com.

HAKE SEAWARD 46 • An innovative design from Hake Yachts in Florida, the new Seaward 46 is a shoal draft cruiser that is capable of extended offshore sailing. With a ballasted retractable keel and retractable rudders, the 46 can cruise in less than three feet of water. Yet, with the keel and rudders fully deployed, the boat will draw over seven feet and will be a stiff and stable platform for blue water sailing.

The big sister to the Seaward 32 and 26, both of which are shoal draft cruisers with retractable keels, the 46 is a raised deck saloon design with a large aft cockpit. The boat can be configured with either a single 75-horsepower diesel or twin 54-horsepower engines. And there is a “fishing” option that fits a fighting chair and rod holders at the stern.

The 46 has a fairly narrow 13-foot beam and a small but handy rig with a 100 percent self-tacking jib, so it should be easily driven even in light airs. The 46 has been in the works for a while and has already stirred up a lot of interest since there are not many retracting keel cruisers on the market, with the exception of Southerly Yachts in England. Look for the boat at the Annapolis Sailboat Show in October. Specifications were not available at press time.

For more information, call 727-287-3200 or visit www.seawardyachts.com.

HALLBERG-RASSY 372 • The new German Frers-designed Hallberg Rassy 372 is another cruiser under 40-feet that will appeal to couples and young families. The 372 replaces the popular HR 37.

HR has built more than 8,000 cruising boats over the years, so it is well established as one of the world’s cruising yacht leaders. The new 372 is slightly longer, beamier and more streamlined below the water than the 37. The rig is more than a meter taller, and the sail plan has been configured to fly a large mainsail and a small headsail that will be easy to tack and trim. A self-tacking jib option is available. The three-spreader rig can be fine-tuned with the standard backstay adjuster, and the chainplates for the shrouds are far inboard, allowing tight sheeting angles and keeping side decks uncluttered.

The 372 has a clean deck layout. The furling drum for the genoa is mounted below decks, as is the anchor windlass at the bow. Down below, the 372 offers classic HR quality with a U-shaped, seagoing galley, bench settees and storage for gear, groceries and spares. The chart table is across from the galley, while the head and shower are behind it. The forward cabin sports a large double berth, a vanity, hanging and storage lockers, and bookshelves. The after cabin has a huge double berth and additional storage.

The 372 was voted European Boat of the Year in 2010. The new design is a fine example of the great work HR does and just how much you can fit into a sleek and speedy 37-foot hull.

The HR 372 will make a great voyaging boat for a couple who like to sail fast and want to bring their comforts with them to sea.

Specifications: LOA 33’6”; LWL 29’5”; Beam 11’6”; Draft (deep) 5’6”; Displ. 12,400 lbs.; Sail area 625 sq. ft. For more information, contact Eastland Yachts in Essex, CT (860-767-8224), Free State Yachts in Deal, Maryland (410-867-9022), Swiftsure Yachts in Seattle, Washington (206-378-1110), or visit www.hallberg-rassy.com

HANSE 495 • This year, Hanse will introduce several new models, among them the stylish and innovative 495. A powerful modern cruising sloop, the 495 has a Judel-Vrolijk hull with a nearly plumb bow and squared-off transom. The hull’s sheer is fairly straight, so the boat’s profile makes it look purposeful and fast. Think of that long waterline.

On deck, the broad beam and low cabin house make the boat feel spacious. The cockpit is open aft, so the floor flows between the twin wheel back to the transom. The decks are uncluttered, and because the jib is a self-tacker on its own track, the chainplates and shrouds were moved outboard to allow unimpaired passages along the side decks. With teak decks and recessed hatches, a 495 will have a Wally Boat modern Euro look.

Down below, the 495 offers a large owner’s cabin forward with a centerline double berth and plenty of storage space. The head and shower are in separate compartments port and starboard. In the standard layout, twin quarter cabins aft have good headroom and plenty of lockers. Ventilation is via open deck hatches and ports that open into the cockpit. The aft cabins are served by a single head to port that has a nice big shower stall. The standard saloon plan has the galley along the port side and the large U-shaped dinette to starboard with a bench amidships to seat two more guests. The chart table is just aft of the dinette and close to the companionway. The styling evokes modern European furniture, with contrasting light and dark woods, sharp angles and expanses of open floor.

Hanse offers so many ways to customize your new boat that no two 495s will ever be the same. Fun to sail, comfortable down below, and a truly modern statement in cruising, the Hanse 495 will appeal to those who want the latest thinking and the ability to customize the look of their boat to a great extent.

Specifications: LOA 50’6”; LWL 44’5”; Beam 15’7”; Draft 6’9”; Displ. 30,900 lbs.; Sail area 1,390 sq. ft. For more information, call 978-903-0380 or visit usa.hanseyachts.com or www.hanseyachts.com.

MOODY 45AC • Hanse Yachts in Germany bought the Moody brand several years ago and came out at once with a truly innovative deck saloon or pilothouse model that turned a lot of heads. Since then, the company has gone back to designer Bill Dixon for a more traditional aft cockpit luxury cruising boat to fit the Moody brand.

The Aft Cockpit 45 is a modern sloop with a tall fractional rig and a sweet, traditional-looking hull with balanced ends and a springy sheer. The full battened mainsail is standard, but in-boom furling could be added without degrading sailing performance. The jib is self-tacking and runs to a track athwart the forward cabintop, making upwind sailing a snap. The 45’s cockpit has twin wheels, a folding transom and a lovely varnished table with folding leaves. A low windshield wraps around the companionway, keeping spray out of the cockpit and providing a good base for a canvas dodger.

Down below, the furniture is finished in varnished mahogany around accents of white panels and trim, so the whole effect is of traditional Bristol Fashion neatly modernized. Raised panel doors and drawers, some with wicker inserts to enhance ventilation, add a classic touch. The seagoing galley is at the foot of the companionway to starboard, while the head and shower are to port. Aft, the 45 AC has twin quarter cabins while the master cabin is forward with its own en suite head and shower. The dinette amidships is huge, and across from it are two easy chairs on either side of a small table that doubles as the nav station.

Hanse has made a serious effort to offer Moody as a truly upscale brand that will appeal to sailors who want a well designed, fine sailing yacht that is finished to the highest degree. Specifications: LOA 45’0”; LWL 40’1”; Beam 13’8”; Drat 7’3”; Displ. 26,895 lbs. Sail area 1,205 sq. ft. For more information, call 978-903-0380 or visit www.hanseyachts.com.

ISLAND PACKET 360 • Island Packet Yachts has been building seaworthy cruising boats for 30 years, and you will find them in the world’s best cruising grounds. With designer Bob Johnson’s Full Foil Keel, moderate sail area-to-displacement ratios, cutter rigs and self-tacking Hoyt Jib Boom Staysails, the line has a well earned reputation for easy motion in a seaway and high average speeds over the long haul. On IPY designs, you arrive at the end of the passage more rested than when you began.

This year, the company is adding to its line a 36-footer that is an evolution of the handsome and sweet sailing Estero.

The 360 is a salty and capable cruiser with a nice springy sheer, a short bowsprit that houses the anchors as well as the roller furling headsail, and a fairly low profile cabin that fits the hull neatly.

The cockpit has been designed for comfort and safety, so it is not overly large and will drain quickly if ever a wave came aboard at sea. All sailing sheets, halyards and control lines run aft, so you never have to leave the cockpit to add or reduce working sail.

The accommodation plan below offers a large double cabin aft with a neat V-style berth that allows you to swing your legs easily to the floor when getting up. This is a pleasant quarter cabin with ample ventilation, a hanging locker and plenty of space for clothes. The forward cabin has a traditional V-berth, hanging and storage lockers, and a private door to the large head. The saloon has the huge galley aft to starboard and an aft-facing chart table. The L-shaped dinette to port will seat four at the fold-down saloon table. Across to starboard, two swiveling easy chairs will make lounging, reading and watching TV just as comfortable as at home.

A great mid-size cruiser, the new IP 360 is a go-anywhere blue water yacht that will look after her crew as a proper yacht should.

Specifications: LOA 36’5”; LWL 31’6”; Beam 12’4”; Draft 4’0”; Displ. 19,300 lbs.; Sail area 831 sq. ft. For more information, call 888-724-5479 or visit www.ipy.com

HUNTER e33 • Hunter has long been a leader in offering sailors a wide range of boats, from sailing dinghies to 50-foot ocean cruisers. But the company may be best known for its mid-size cruisers, which offer expansive living spaces in boats that are easy to sail and handle.

The new e33 fits right into that mid-size segment and introduces an attractive new look for the Florida-based builder. With a sleek deck design and large cabin windows, the boat looks modern and fast. The hull has a wider transom than the earlier 33-footer and the bow has been given a narrower entry. The cockpit is large and comfortable for a boat of this size and has a neat fold-down transom that becomes a large swim platform. Hunter uses unique B&R rigs, with sharply swept back spreaders and no backstay. The main is quite large, while the headsail is small enough to be easy to tack. This rig is simple for a couple or even a singlehander to manage.

Over the last decade, Hunter has steadily refined their interior arrangements and the fit and finish of the joinery down below. The e33 has a large athwartships double berth in the after cabin that is tucked in under the cockpit and side deck on the starboard side. The forward cabin has a V-berth and plenty of storage for clothes, linens and towels. The galley has Corian counters, a large fridge and a two-burner stove with an oven below. The dinette to port will seat four easily. To starboard, the bench settee with be a good berth, or the middle section of the bench can be converted quickly to form a chart table. All of the boat’s instruments are accessible from the starboard settee.

A handsome addition to the Hunter line of sailboats, the new e33 offers a lot of accommodations in a cruising boat that will be easy to sail and comfortable for extended cruises.

Specifications: LOA 33’6”; LWL 29’5”; Beam 11’6”; Draft 4’6”/5’6”; Displ. 12,400 lbs.; Sail area 625 sq. ft. For more information, visit www.huntermarine.com.

JEANNEAU 379 • The success of the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 that was introduced at last year’s Annapolis show, with its hard chine aft, fold-down stern platform and simple but powerful sloop rig, primed the market for more Jeanneaus of the same style. So this year, Jeanneau is launching the Sun Odyssey 379 and Sun Odyssey 439.

The 379 has a modern hull style with a nearly plumb bow, a squared-off transom and a low slung coach roof. The sloop rig has been set up for ease of handling and good performance. The mainsail is a slab reefed full batten main with lazy jacks. The mainsheets run aft on both sides of the coach roof to the cockpit winches, so the helmsman can trim while steering. The cockpit has been laid out for efficient sail trim. With twin wheels, access to the fold-down swim platform is excellent.

Below decks, the 379 comes in a two- or three-cabin version, both with a large head and separate shower stall. In the two-cabin version, the port quarter becomes a huge sail and storage locker and a small wet locker adjoins the head. In the three-cabin version, the port quarter becomes a sleeping cabin and the head is moved forward. The L-shaped galley is useful, and the dinette forward seats six with the drop leaf raised.

Specifications: LOA 37’0”; Beam 12’0”; Draft 5’0”; Displ. 14,740 lbs.; Sail area 753 sq. ft.

The new JEANNEAU 439 has a larger, beamier Philippe Briand hull that will translate into greater cabin volume and stability. The bow sections have a bit more hollow for a narrow entry, which will improve the boat’s motion and windward ability.

Like its little sisters, the 439 is all about good sailing aboard a comfortable boat.
Twin wheels give the helmsman great visibility forward and open the cockpit to the large swim platform.

Down below, the 439 makes use of the extra beam to offer an unusual four-cabin, two-head layout with two double quarter cabins, a V-berth cabin forward, and an upper and lower cabin forward of the main bulkhead. In the three-cabin, two-head version, the forward cabin gets a large centerline double berth and a large vanity or desk. The saloon has the seagoing galley aft and to starboard, where it is convenient to the cockpit and large dinette.

The fit and finish of the 379 and 438 is bright and airy, and multiple hatches and ports provide natural light and excellent ventilation.

Specifications: LOA 44’0”; Beam 14’0”; Draft 7’0”; Displ. 21,736 lbs.; Sail area 1,004 sq. ft.

The 44 DECK SALOON (DS) Sun Odysseys are all about elegance, style and comfort. From the swim platform aft to the bow rollers forward, the 44DS embodies the latest in Euro styling. The Philippe Briand designed hull is similar to the 439, but there the similarity ends.

The deck saloon cabintop has a kind of Audi TT curve that flows for the full length of the cockpit and cabintop to the foredeck. The huge side windows are tinted black and set off by dark gray moldings that run along the edge of the cabin. The halyards, sheets and control lines from the mast run in conduits on the cabintop, and the two-ended mainsheet runs under the deck to winches aft by the twin wheels.

The 44DS has a huge aft cabin, with a queen-size double berth under the cockpit and bridgedecks. For added headroom, cockpit soles have been raised and a wide bridgedeck added. The cockpit has a large table with drop leaves and a built-in chart plotter. Down below, the furniture is more angular and the cabinets are lower with an “interior designer” feel, which is not surprising since the styling was done by Franck Darnet. The use of bright white and contrasting black counter and tabletops sets off the wood veneers, cabinets and bulkheads, and the sharp stainless steel latches and fittings are a statement in elegance.

Aside from the full width after stateroom, the 44DS has two guest cabins forward and a second head. One of the cabins has a V-berth, while the others have an upper and lower single berth. The saloon is a trendy modern living space with a large galley, U-shaped dinette and bench settee.

The 44DS will make a fine cruising boat for a couple or family who wants their leisure time to be as elegant and modern as can be.

Specifications: LOA 44’0”; Beam 14’0”; Draft 7’0”; Displ. 21,450 gals.; Sail area 835 sq. ft. For more information, call 410-280-9400 or visit www.jeanneau.com.

The new OYSTER 625, which has been nominated for 2012 Boat of the Year in Europe, is a Rob Humphries design that dramatically upgrades the already popular previous boats in the Oyster line, the 61 and 62.

A center cockpit desk saloon design, the 625 has a modern sheer line capped by the new style of wraparound deck saloon windows that Oyster has used so successfully in recent models. The standard rig will have an in-mast furling mainsail and a cutter rig forward. This gives you a lot of trim choices and allows you to shorten sail in rising weather without leaving the cockpit. A Solent headsail rig and in-boom mainsail furling are options.

Down below, the 625 offers a true master stateroom aft with a queen-size double and plenty of storage and comfortable amenities. An owner and spouse will really feel at home here. Forward, two guest cabins are shown in the standard accommodation plan—a Pullman double cabin to starboard and an upper and lower cabin to port. The forepeak has been reserved for a single crewmember, with access to one of the en suite heads that adjoin the forward cabins. The saloon is spacious and will be full of light. The dinette is huge and will seat eight. The galley is in the passageway aft to port and will be an excellent seagoing galley. The chart table at the base of the companionway is a proper navigation command central where you can mount all of your radios, sat phone, chartplotters and radar. Plus, the table is large enough to spread out an old paper chart.

The new Oyster 625 is a handsome, high quality ocean sailing yacht that will keep you safe at sea, get you home quickly, and provide you with elegance and comfort along the way.

Specifications: LOA 63’7”; LWL 56’7”; Beam 17’10”; Draft 9’2”; Displ. 73,854 lbs.; Sail area 2,538 sq. ft. For more information, call 401-846-7400 or visit www.oystermarine.com.

The SABRE 456 was launched late last year and has drawn a lot of attention from both Sabre owners and would-be Sabre owners.

The Jim Taylor design is an upgrade of the Sabre 452 that was introduced several years ago with a new keel, new rig and modernized interior.

On deck, the 456 has a large, secure cockpit with high seatbacks and a single large destroyer wheel. The main sheet runs to the traveler forward of the dodger so the cockpit is not cluttered. The chainplates for the shrouds are well inboard for close sheeting angles on the genoa and to make going forward easier.

Down below, the forward cabin offers a large centerline double berth and a large en suite head with a separate shower stall. The guest cabin aft has a large double berth and plenty of storage space. The 456’s galley is one of the largest and best laid out in any boat of this size. Since you tend to live in the kitchen, the saloon has the feel of a large, homey country kitchen. The drawer-style pull-out fridge is an innovation that we feel sure will catch on in other designs. Sabre has revamped their interior joinery style with a slightly Japanese flair to the doors and cabinets, making great use of the spaces available and adding light to the cabins. Because the 456 is built to order, Sabre can really work with an owner to customize the boat to his or her needs.

A fine offshore quality boat built in “Maine style,” the 456 will carry you across oceans or the bay swiftly and comfortably.

Specifications: LOA 45’6”; LWL 38’4”; Beam 14’1”; Draft 5’6”; Displ. 27,150 lbs.; Sail area 1,043 sq. ft. For more information, call 207-655-3831 or visit www.sabreyachts.com.

The new Tim Jackett-designed TARTAN 4000, which was introduced last winter, embodies a lot of the new thinking that has gone into the boats and the company since it was purchased by Steve Malbasa last year. The new company is all about delighting customers with great boats and great service.

The 4000 really speaks to that mission. The cockpit is large and secure, with twin wheels for easy access to the fold-down stern platform. The seats are contoured for optimum comfort around the stowable cockpit table or when sailing hard. Tartan used their patented Cruise Control Rig, which uses a fully battened mainsail with a double headsail rig that deploys an inner upwind jib and a larger reacher on the outer roller. The CCR offers the best in both upwind and downwind sailing without forcing you to fly a spinnaker or even leave the cockpit.

Tartan is unique in the market by offering carbon spars, booms and rudders as standard equipment. Equally unique are the epoxy-infused hull and decks that are tougher, lighter and virtually impervious to osmosis. Down below, the cherry interior has a large centerline double berth and en suite head in the forward cabin. The sofa-style saloon with a fold-down table will be comfortable for up to eight. The galley offers lots of counter space, a large fridge and double stainless steel sinks. Across from the galley, the chart table is a traditional nav station where the skipper or navigator will be in command of all of the ship’s systems.

A fine new entry to the 40-foot cruising fleet, the new Tartan 4000 will be a great couple’s boat and is built to be a family heirloom, albeit one that you could sail across the ocean.

Specifications: LOA 40’ 8”; LWL 36’4”; Beam 13’0”; Draft 7’6”; Displ. 20,104 lbs.; Sail area 893 sq. ft. For more information, call 440-357-7777 or visit www.tartanyachts.com.

A semi-custom design that was spawned last year and launched late last spring, the new TARTAN 4700 expands upon themes introduced in the 4400 a few years ago.

On deck, the cockpit is huge and deep and will be very secure at sea. With twin wheels and a folding transom, the living space will feel vast while at anchor and with the platform lowered.

At sea, all buttoned up, you won’t mind running down the face of ocean rollers. The 4700 has Tartan’s Cruise Control Rig, so it is easy and efficient to sail upwind or off the wind and actually sails higher and faster than the 4400. The extra three feet add to the boat’s balance and waterline length, which translates into better performance all around.

Down below, a lot of attention has been given to making the boat a comfortable family home with good communal and private spaces. The large aft cabin is tucked under the cockpit, and the bridgedeck has been raised to provide full headroom across the cabin. The large aft head is next to it to starboard.

The 4700, like the 4400, has a raised dinette that offers good views through the deck saloon windows. And the chart table is raised as well, so you can easily stand watches inside the cabin with great visibility forward and to both sides. The engine room is beneath the raised saloon floor, where you have great access to the engineering systems. Forward, there is a large master cabin with an attached head and a third cabin with upper and lower bunks, which will appeal to children and their friends.

A fine new model in the Tartan line, the 4700 is a liveaboard, offshore quality yacht that offers all of the attributes of Tartans—epoxy hull and deck, carbon rig, carbon rudder, Beavertail shoal draft keel—in an exciting new package. Look for BWS’s full review and the new boat’s specifications in the October issue.

For more information, call 440-357-7777 or visit www.tartanyachts.com.

The new Oyster 46 is a great couple’s cruising boat and will be both a lot of fun to sail and a great escape home afloat. This is a boat you could truly sail around the world without crew or extra hands.And when you show up at the Oyster Rendezvous that are hosted in the Med, the Caribbean and the East Coast of the U.S., you can be assured that you will be one of the fastest boats in the fleet. At the end of the two-day Oyster regatta last summer, Thales finished in first place with two seconds in fleet and the best combined point score. Not bad, considering Geoff and Jean had never raced the boat before.OYSTER 46LOA 46’10”LWL 40’7”Beam 14’6”Draft (standard) 7’1”Draft (shoal) 5’9”Displacement 37,920 lbs.Fuel 198 gals.Water 172 gals.Engine 75hpSail area 1293 sq. ft.Mast height 62’5”SA/D 17.65D/L 258Two of the photos, the aerial (first shot) and the salon are courtesy of Oyster Marine.

2010 BOAT SHOW PREVIEW •

BENETEAU FIRST 30

Beneteau has never been shy about new design ideas, so it should be no surprise that they turned to Juan Kouyoumdjian, who designed many of the speedsters in the current maxi and Volvo fleets, for the lines of the new “evolutionary” First 30. To stir things up, Beneteau asked Michel Desjoyeaux, winner of the Vendee Globe, to consult. The result is the new First 30, which looks like the offspring of a Volvo 70 and an Open 60, shrunk to 30 feet. The new boat has a plumb bow, broad beam all the way aft and hard chines molded into the aft sections of the boat, similar to bigger race boats. Twin rudders are necessary because of the beam aft and will make the boat drive like she’s on rails when surfing downwind behind her big chute. The 30 has a T-bulb deep keel for stability and a huge fractional rig that sports a boom that reaches all the way to the transom, where the main traveler is mounted. In the tradition of Beneteau First series boats, the new 30 has accommodations that make it a true cruiser-racer. The layout below decks shows a small V-berth forward and a large double berth tucked under the cockpit on the port side. The galley is adequate for a 30-footer, while the chart table is large and roomy. Two bench settees run fore and aft on either side of a central table with folding leaves. The 30 can sleep six in a pinch and will be comfortable for a family in cruising mode. If you like innovation, fun, performance and the influence of the big offshore pros, you will love the new First 30.Specifications: LOA 30’; LWL 29’; Beam 10’6”; Draft 6’6”. For more information, visit www.beneteauusa.com

ELECTRIC ALERION 33

As we reported in the August issue of BWS, Pearson Composites recently launched a new Alerion 33 equipped with a Mastervolt electric power train and no internal combustion engine. The motive behind this innovative new Alerion was the desire of an owner to be able to slip in and out of his dock without making a sound or polluting the waters around him with exhaust. The Mastervolt propulsion system is built around the company’s new high-performance Lithium-ion batteries, which use the same technology as the long life batteries in laptop computers and soon in all electric automobiles. The batteries are 15 percent more efficient and 70 percent lighter than wet cell batteries. The Alerion is an excellent boat for the Mastervolt system because it is so easily driven. Powered by Mastervolt’s 7.5-kilowatt saildrive system, the 33 will have a range of 15 to 20 nautical miles on battery power alone. For sailors who normally daysail, this is plenty of margin for safety. Underway, the Alerion with the Mastervolt system has better acceleration and stopping power than a normal diesel engine because full torque is available the moment the engine is put into gear. The Alerion 33 is also a fine barebones coastal cruiser with a simple but pleasant interior and basic accommodations, including a V-berth forward, an enclosed head, an ice box and counter for a countertop cooker, bench settees and basic storage. If you are looking for a truly green machine that makes use of great design and the latest in electric propulsion, the Alerion 33 with the Mastervolt electric drive system is the way to go.Specifications: LOA 33’0”; LWL 26’4”; Beam 9’3”; Draft 5’0”; Displacement 8,700 lbs.; Ballast 3,300 lbs.; Sail area 609 sq. ft. For more information, visit www.alerionexp.com

BENETEAU FIRST 35

The new Beneteau 35 follows in the wake of the First 50. The modern design combines the high performance of First series boats with the accommodations sailors expect in a dual-purpose racer-cruiser. The First 35 has a moderately light displacement hull with a nearly plumb bow, T-bulb keel, long waterline, full sections aft for power and a deep, high aspect balanced spade rudder. The tall fractional rig sports plenty of sail area for performance in light breezes. The cockpit has been laid out for racing crew manning the sheets and control lines but will also be comfortable for a cruising family. The huge wheel fits into a well in the cockpit floor so the helmsman can sit on the coaming to windward or leeward for better visibility steering upwind. The aft end of the cockpit is open and doubles as a swimming platform. Down below, living spaces are bright and airy, with two private cabins. The master cabin has a huge double berth aft under the cockpit. The guest cabin has a V-berth forward. The head is aft to starboard behind the neat chart table. The efficient galley has a two-burner stove, single sink on the centerline and icebox. The bench settees will make good sea berths; you will be able to seat six around the main table. The design of the new 35 is a real advancement from the well-proven 36.7 that has been the leader in this size range for a decade. The boat will be a lot of fun to sail, is built tough enough for offshore events and will make a comfortable, if spirited, cruiser.Specifications: LOA 35’7”; LWL 30’7”; Beam 11’11”; Draft 7’3” (std.) or 5’11” (shoal) Displ. 12,125 lbs; Ballast 3,681 lbs. (std.); Sail area 446 sq. ft. For more information, visit www.beneteauusa.com

CATALINA 355

The new 355 is the successful Catalina 455’s little sister. The new design from Gerry Douglas and the Catalina team has a modest beam, a fairly low freeboard and a nice tall rig. With a moderate displacement hull, a cruising fin keel and a well-balanced spade rudder, the boat promises to be easily driven under sail, close winded, easy to handle, with easy motion in a seaway. The new boat’s deep and secure cockpit has a single wheel, built-in table with folding leaves and an insulated icebox, and a folding seat aft for access to the stern platform. All control lines for the sails are led aft to line stoppers and winches on the cabin top so you can raise and reef the mainsail or roll up the jib from the cockpit. Down below, the forward cabin has a centerline double berth that will be easy to get in and out of and easy to make. The guest cabin is aft under the cockpit and has a large double berth positioned athwartships. The head is at the foot of the companionway ladder where it is convenient to both sleeping cabins and will work well as a wet locker for foul weather gear. The galley is huge and laid out for truly preparing meals either at anchor or underway. The dinette will seat the full crew. The new 355 has many well thought out details that come from the decades of building and sailing experience behind Catalina. A capable mid-size cruiser at a reasonable price, the 355 will no doubt become one of the company’s most popular and successful new boats to come along in a while. At press time, the 355’s specifications had not been published by the builder. For more information, visit www.catalinayachts.com

DUFOUR 40e

The new Dufour 40e is a trendsetting modern racer-cruiser that combines advanced design and engineering with luxurious but sensible cruising interior spaces. The hull has a modern look with a transom stern that folds down to make a large aft platform, a straight sheer, low cabin profile and a nearly plumb bow. Under the water the high aspect rudder and keel will give the boat a lot of lift while reducing wetted surface. The tall fractional rig has a large mainsail to drive the boat and smaller overlapping headsails for sailing fast upwind. The main traveler is aft on the cockpit sole just forward of the twin wheel and the double-ended mainsheet leads aft along the side decks to winches near the helmsman on either side of the cockpit. The rest of the mainsail control lines lead aft from the mast to winches and line stoppers on either side of the companionway hatch. On deck adjustable genoa cars facilitate accurate sail trim while the below decks roller furling drum on the genoa allows for deck-sweeping racing sails. Although the 40e is destined for regattas, the interior was conceived to house the crew in comfort and luxury. The boat can come with two or three sleeping cabins, with the master stateroom forward or aft under the cockpit. The L-shaped galley has plenty of counter and storage space with the convertible dinette forward of it. The head, chart table and bench settee fill the starboard side of the saloon. A handsome, elegant modern racer-cruiser, the Dufour 40e promises to give new meaning to the idea of performance in a dual purpose boat since she does both so well.Specifications: LOA 40;6”; LWL 35’4”; Beam 12’9”; Draft 6’6”; Displ. 17,525 lbs.; Sail area 947 sq. ft. For more information, visit www.dufour-yachts.com

RIVOLTA 43

Rivolta Yachts builds interesting motorboats with a distinctly Italian flare. Last year, father and son Piero and Renzo Rivolta embarked on a quest to built a sailboat that combines classic yacht style with a modern underbody and rig. They turned to Maine-based designers Stephens, Waring & White and the result was the stylish Rivolta 43 Vintage. Key to the new design was the desire for good sailing performance and shoal draft. The designers came up with an innovative solution by specifying twin rudders aft and a lifting T-bulb keel. The draft can be adjusted from six feet when sailing in deep water to three feet, six inches in the shallows. The fractional rig that drives the new 43 has a high, square-topped mainsail, a self-tacking jib-staysail, a roller furling reacher and the ability to fly an asymmetrical spinnaker from the small bowsprit. With the exception of the spinnaker, all sails can be handled from the cockpit. The 43 was designed to be cruised by a couple with occasional guests. The forward cabin has a nice centerline double berth and direct head access. The guest cabin lies aft and to port. The lifting keel is housed neatly inside the saloon table for easy access to the lifting gear. With bench seats on both sides, the table seats five. The galley is simple and near the companionway, which helps keep it ventilated. One of the most distinctive touches is the large lounging area on the after deck, which is similar to the sunning platforms on many Mediterranean speedboats. As a weekender or a boat for longer cruises, the new Rivolta 43 Vintage offers a compelling combination of classic good looks, sailing performance and shoal draft.Specifications: LOA 43’0”; LWL 34’0”; Beam 12’6”; Draft 3’6”/6’0”; Displ. 15,900 lbs.; Sail area 927 sq. ft. For more information, visit www.rivolta.com

DUFOUR 405 GRAND LARGE

Dufour’s Grand Large series has a huge following in Europe and worldwide because the boats are great floating homes while maintaining a high standard of sailing performance. The 405 Grand Large is the cruising sister ship to the 40e Performance. With a similar moderate displacement hull, dual wheels in the cockpit, and transom stern with folding swim platform, the boats look similar. But while the 40e has been set up for racing crews and line handling efficiency, the 405 is a cruising boat first. The mainsheet traveler is on the cabin top instead of in the cockpit, where it is out of the way, and the cockpit has a handsome table with drop leaves that will feed six friends. A double-ended mainsheet can be adjusted from both helm stations. In-mast or in-boom mainsail furling can be had as an option. Down below the 405 has a large master cabin forward and one or two guest cabins aft. In the three-cabin version, the galley is positioned Med style along the starboard side of the saloon. In the two-cabin version, the galley is an L-shaped space aft to starboard. The dinette to port will seat six comfortably and will double as a good sea berth on passage. The fit and finish of the 405 give the boat a warmth and elegance that underscore the boat’s overall quality. Plus, the use of white overheads and plenty of hatches adds to the brightness and airiness below. The 405 was voted European Boat of the Year by European yachting journalists—an award it deserves for its fine combination of cruising comfort, sailing performance and quality build.Specifications: LOA 39’11”; LWL 36’8”; Beam 13’4”; Draft 6’6”; Displ. 19,800 lbs.; Sail Area 861 sq. ft. For more information, visit www.dufour-yachts.com

HANSE 445

Introduced in Europe in early 2010, the Hanse 445 is another dramatic design step for the company that helped redefine “modern” in hull styling and interior décor. The 445 was conceived in modernist mode, with a high-sided hull that has large in-hull windows, a plumb bow, wide-open transom and a low truncated cabin top defined by a wraparound black-tinted window. Below the water, the Judel Vrolijk-designed hull has a minimum of wetted surface, a T-bulb keel and a large spade rudder. On deck, halyards and control lines from the mast run under-deck conduits aft to banks of line stoppers near the helmsman and not on the cabin top. Forward, the roller furling drum is hidden beneath the deck. The blade headsail is self-tacking and the sheet runs to a sliding track forward of the mast, then aft to the cockpit. The new Hanses sail quickly and are easy for a couple to handle. With the addition of a downwind sail, the boat will be a rocket on all points of sail. Down below, the interior is modern with open sight lines fore and aft, natural light, expanses of white laminate accented by wood doors, drawer fronts and moldings, and angular furniture. Hanse has a neat system for personalizing interiors on their website called the “Configurator.” The basic boat has a large walk-around double in the forward cabin, twin cabins aft, a large head forward and another head aft to port. The saloon has the galley aft to starboard with the dinette just forward of it and an L-shaped settee across to port. The new 445 is not your grandfather’s cruiser; it is a bold stab at the future and all the more interesting for that reason.Specifications: LOA 43’11”; LWL 40’4”; Beam14’4”; Draft 7’4”; Displ. 24,293; Sail area 1,180 sq. ft. For more information, visit www.hanseyachts.com

DUFOUR 45e

The new Dufour 45e Performance is the big sister to the 40e, and the two boats share many similarities. But at 45 feet, the 45e has enough space on deck and in the interior to make it seem much roomier. It’s amazing what five feet will do. On deck, the 45e is set up for efficient racing with the main traveler aft in the cockpit and the sheets led to winches that are easy to work during long tacking legs. But, in the cockpit, you will also find a handsome table with folding leaves and storage. The 45e has a massive triple spreader rig that hoists a big mainsail and an overlapping fractional genoa. No doubt the boat will be a fine light air performer with real legs when reefed down and charging in a fresh blow. Down below, the boat has a triple cabin layout with a large master cabin forward and twin double cabins aft. The berth in the forward cabin is on the centerline so you can board from either side. The forward cabin has its own head with a second head aft. If you need extra sleeping space, an upper-lower berth cabin can be squeezed in next to the master cabin forward. In the saloon, the L-shaped galley and dinette are to port while the bench settee, nav table and aft head lie to starboard. The layout is simple, sensible and makes good use of the 45’s considerable interior volume. A true oceangoing performance cruiser, the Dufour 45e will be a contender wherever she sails and will provide her owners and crew with above-average accommodations along the way.Specifications: LOA 45’9”; LWL 39’10”; Beam 14’10”; Draft 6’5”; Displ. 22,966; Sail area 1,217 sq. ft. For more information, visit www.dufour-yachts.com

SABRE 456

This fall, Sabre Yachts will introduce the new 456. The 45-foot sloop, which started life a decade ago as the 452—a highly regarded cruiser-racer with modern classic lines and distinctive “Maine quality”—joins the company’s other modern classic cruisers, the 426 and 486. BWS reviewed the 452 after a 400-mile sea trial and came away thoroughly impressed. The reinvented 456 has a new keel, new rig and modernized interior. On deck, the 456 has a large, secure cockpit with high seatbacks so you feel protected from the elements. The mainsheet runs through a traveler on the cabin top so the cockpit remains uncluttered. Side decks are wide and shrouds are positioned well inboard, so going to the foredeck is not an obstacle course. Down below, the forward cabin offers a large centerline double berth instead of the traditional V-berths and the forward head has the addition of a shower stall. The guest cabin aft has a large double berth and plenty of dressing room. Engine access is through panels in the after cabin and under the companionway stairs. The 452’s galley was one of the best in this size range and Sabre has improved on it by adding a nifty drawer-style fridge that can be opened on any tack and will never disgorge its contents in a seaway. The chart table has been downsized to reflect the fact that modern navigators are more likely to be pushing buttons than plotting courses on paper charts. The dinette and bench settee will seat a crowd for meals and double as good sea berths. The new 456 is a great size for a cruising couple and will be a capable coastal cruiser and a fine and speedy offshore passagemaker. We’re glad to see her back in the cruising fleet.Specifications: LOA 45’6”; LWL 38’4”; Beam 14’1”; Draft 5’6”; Displ. 27.150 lbs.; Sail area 1,043 sq. ft. For more information, visit www.sabreyachts.com

BENETEAU OCEANIS 50

Last winter we got the chance to take the then-brand-new Beneteau Oceanis 50 for a test sail off Miami in a spanking good northerly breeze and found the new design to be stiff, weatherly, easy to handle in a breeze and fast. (See the BWS review in the April 2010 issue.) The first thing you notice about the 50 is the cockpit arch that anchors the mainsheet and provides a rigid and permanent spot for a dodger. This keeps the cockpit clear of spaghetti sheets but does eliminate a traveler, so you have to use the vang to tighten the leech. Forward, the chain plates are nicely inboard and the side decks are clear and you get good tight sheeting angles for upwind sailing. The cockpit is huge and comfortable with twin wheels, a large table and the chartplotter mounted on a pivoting pod on the table’s aft end. There were seven of us aboard during our sail and we all fit into the cockpit with room to spare. The interior was designed by Nauta Designs and has a definite Euro look with clean white bulkheads and mahogany-colored Alpi furniture. There are three private sleeping cabins: two aft and the master cabin forward with a centerline double berth. The L-shaped galley is huge and has plenty of locker space. The chart table to starboard doubles as a desk or game table where two people can sit facing each other. The dinette to port seats six comfortably. A trendsetting modern cruising boat, the new 50 is equipped with all LED lighting as standard equipment. Innovation, quality and value are the hallmarks of this handsome addition to the Oceanis line.Specifications: LOA 49’6”; LWL 43’8”; Beam 14’9”; Draft 5’9”; Displ. 28,660. For more information, visit www.beneteauusa.com

HUNTER 50

The Hunter 50, which follows on the heels of the successful Hunter 49 and center cockpit 50, is an aft cockpit fractionally rigged sloop designed for couples and families who want a boat that is easy to handle and roomy enough for comfortable living. Hunter has long been an innovator in the realm of making sailing as simple and efficient as possible. The B&R rigs used on the 50 and other cruisers have a large in-mast furling mainsail combined with a small, easily tacked jib also on roller furling. The mainsheet runs to a traveler on top of the cockpit arch, where it is readily at hand but not underfoot; the traveler control lines are on the arch as well. The 50 can be set up with a cutter stay and a staysail so you have additional sail area when the wind goes light or you can roll up the genoa and deeply reef the main for blustery conditions. The interior volume of the 50 is remarkable. The saloon makes full use of the boat’s nearly 15 feet of beam and six-and-a-half feet of head room. The dinette will handily seat six. The galley offers modern conveniences, plenty of counter space and ample storage for supplies and necessities. The forward cabin sports a large centerline double berth and a head worthy of the name bathroom. The two guest cabins aft have large double berths and plenty of storage and hanging space. Over the past decade, Hunter has made great strides in fit and finish. They use top-of-the-line hardware, hatches, and rigging and have developed cherry interiors that rival any production boat on the market. For those looking for a production-built cruising boat that offers huge bang for the buck, the new Hunter 50 should be on the short list.Specifications: LOA 49’11”; LWL 43’10”; Beam 14’9”; Draft 5’6”; Displ. 32,813 lbs.; Sail area 1,277 sq. ft. For more information, visit www.huntermarine.com

BENETEAU SENSE 50

This fall Beneteau will roll out a new line of cruising boats under the Sense brand name. The first boat, the Sense 50, is bound to cause a real stir. The Sense 40 will soon follow. Beneteau’s idea was to build a boat that was more comfortable, harmonious and modern in all aspects than anything else on the market. The result is a new type of hull with a narrow bow, broad beam and distinct chines molded into the after sections of the hull. This configuration gives the boat a lot of initial stability so it will not tend to heel much beyond 10 degrees or so. The boat has been conceived with three separate living areas—the patio, the living room and the sleeping quarters. The patio comprises all of the aft outdoor spaces in the cockpit and the afterdeck, where there are twin steering wheels—each with a nice double seat—a dinette and a comfortable bench seat. The cockpit arch carries the mainsheet and anchors the spray dodger. Down only three steps from the cockpit, you enter the living room, which has a large, wraparound couch and an adjustable surface that converts from coffee table to dining area. A desk is built into the couch arrangement and the galley takes up the starboard side of the cabin. With windows all around, this is indoor-outdoor living at its best. The sleeping quarters lie forward with two heads, a small private office and two large double cabins. The office can be converted to a double cabin, too. The new Sense 50 might be the offspring of an Open 60 mated with a modern cruising catamaran and is one of the most interesting new monohulls to come along in a generation.Specifications: LOA 49’2”; Beam 15’11”; Draft 6’10”/5’6” (shoal); Displ. 31,195 lbs.; Sail area 1,313 sq. ft. For more information, visit www.beneteau.com

JEANNEAU 53

The new 53 footer from Jeanneau follows in the wake, first, of the amazing Jeanneau 54 that has been one of the most popular cruising boats in this size range for the last six years, and second, the new Jeanneau 57 that was launched to rave reviews last year. That’s a lot of tradition to live up to, but the new 53 does so with aplomb. The new look of the larger Jeanneaus includes a sharper, nearly plumb bow, fairly high topsides, a low slung, raised saloon and a handsome transom with a swim platform. Under the water, she sports a bulbed fin keel and a large spade rudder. The cockpit is huge, with twin wheels and a handsome teak table that will seat six for meals. The simple fractional sloop rig comes with a large, slab-reefed mainsail and a smaller, roller furling, overlapping jib. Down below, the layout shows options for three or four sleeping cabins. You can have a large master forward and twin guest cabins aft, or you can reverse it and have the large master suite aft and twin guest cabins forward. Or, you can have twin cabins both fore and aft. In each variation, the cabins all have en suite heads. The saloon has the large galley to port with a wraparound counter and the dinette to starboard. The nav station is large enough to double as an office desk and communications center. The success of the Jeanneau 54 augers well for the future of the new 53 since the company has learned a lot about what really works in a production boat of this size and how to make it the best possible value for owners.Specifications: LOA 52’8”; LWL 45’9”; Beam 15’7”; Draft 7’5”; Displ. 32,926 lbs.; Sail area 1,300 sq. ft. For more information, visit www.jeanneau.com

NAJAD 570

The flagship of the Najad fleet, the new 570 is a center cockpit, raised saloon luxury yacht with a tall, powerful sloop rig. Designed by Judel/Vrolijk, the Swedish-built boat has a modern, moderate-displacement hull with a bulbed fin keel and a high aspect spade rudder. The in-mast furling mainsail and genoa can be operated from the cockpit with electric winches so the boat, despite its size and power, can be sailed safely by an experienced couple. All of the Najads are sweet sailing boats and the 570 is no exception. The 570’s decks are clean and open and will be very safe at sea. The cockpit has twin wheels for enhanced visibility and mobility, long bench seats with ergonomically comfortable backs and a handsome teak table with drop-down leaves. Down below, the 570 is truly a luxury yacht in the finest Scandinavian tradition with finely finished hardwoods and light-colored fabrics and trim. The dinette with wraparound sofa seats to port and the large nav station is to starboard. The galley is in the passageway that leads to the after cabin; it will be an excellent place to cook at sea or in port. The forward cabin will be the master suite with a large walkaround double berth and private head. The 570 carries with it all of the heritage of Najad yachts and the long yacht building traditions of Orust Island, where Hallberg-Rassy and Malo yachts are also built. For luxury and pure blue water capability, the Najad 570 is a fleet leader.Specifications: LOA 57’6”; LWL 54’4”; Beam 16’7”; Draft 6’11”; Displ. 52,000 lbs.; Sail area 1,600 sq. ft. For more information, visit www.najad.com

OYSTER 575

The latest Oyster from the board of Rob Humphries, the 575 further extends the builder’s role as a leader in luxury yacht design and construction for blue water sailors. The 575 has a powerful hull with a narrow entry, long water line and full sections aft. Under the water she has either a cruising fin keel or the newly optional keel centerboard configuration and a robust balanced spade rudder. The deck layout is the recognizable center cockpit, raised deck saloon style that Oyster has made so popular. The afterdeck is enormous because of the broad transom and houses large and deep lazarette lockers. Forward, the decks are uncluttered and fitted with well-placed handholds. The tall cutter rig provides a lot of power and the ability to shorten sail extensively from the cockpit. The 575 is a semi-custom boat, so owners may alter the accommodation plan to a certain extent. In the standard layout, the master suite is aft and has a double berth, extensive storage and hanging spaces, a desk-vanity and an en suite head with a shower stall. The galley is in the port passageway aft from the saloon and a small crew’s cabin lies off the starboard passageway aft. Two guest cabins are all the way forward where they share a head. The saloon has a conventional chart table and curved settee along the starboard side and a huge dinette to port. The interior décor has the feel of a true luxury yacht where no expense has been spared. Oysters have a well-earned reputation for being premier sea boats and enduring yachts.Specifications: LOA 57’6”; LWL 51’6”; Beam 16’5”; Draft 8’10”; Displ. 61,728 lbs.; Sail area 2,091 sq. ft. For more information, visit www.oystermarine.com

BENETEAU OCEANIS 58

Beneteau’s flagship, the new Oceanis 58, is a completely new style of Beneteau that incorporates many ideas from custom super yachts while never losing sight of the essential qualities that make Beneteaus so distinctive. From the large after deck swimming platform to the expansive cockpit with its beautiful teak table to the distinctive cockpit arch for the mainsheet, the designers have brought a host of innovative ideas to the new design. The simple sloop rig, with in-mast furling for the main and roller furling for the genoa is simple, robust and easy for a couple to handle. The deck layout shows wide side decks and good working spaces forward when setting a spinnaker or anchoring. Down below, the interior of the 58 is truly special. With design input from Nauta Design, Beneteau has created a totally modern, Euro-style interior with white bulkheads, white overhead liners and handsome mahogany-colored Alpi wood furniture. The owner’s version has the master cabin forward with a double berth, extensive storage room and an en suite head. The guest cabins are aft on either side of the companionway, each with its own head. The dinette dominates the saloon since it has a huge table and a wraparound seating arrangement that will accommodate eight or more adults. The nav table is just aft and the huge galley is across from it to port. The volume of the interior is amazing and you will find sailing with six or more people entirely comfortable and possible. The Beneteau 58 is a luxury production yacht that delivers sailing ease and fun during the day and stylish and roomy accommodations as the sun sets. Plus, the boat is a great value.Specifications: LOA 57’9”; LWL 49’3”; Beam 16’4”; Draft 6’11”; Displ. 47,399 lbs.; Sail area 1,791 sq. ft. For more information, visit www.beneteauusa.com

LIVING ABOARD

The new 575 has 18 opening port holes, saloon windows and deck hatches, so you can see that the priority was for the boat to be bright inside and well ventilated—two vital aspects of creature comfort on a cruising boat.

Most Oyster owners use their boats for the purpose for which they were designed: world cruising. In the mid-size range (for Oyster) where the 575 fits, most boats are sailed by couple or families, while some also carry a paid crew or skipper. The accommodation plan for the new boat fits both scenarios.

In the standard plan, the 575 provides two large double cabins with en suite heads and showers. The master cabin aft is huge and has large hanging lockers, a small desk-style vanity, and plenty of drawer and locker space. The forward cabin is the guest cabin and has a centerline double and ample storage spaces for a couple who might be visiting for a week or two. There are two smaller upper-lower berth cabins in the standard plan, which will be good for younger crew, children or a skipper and mate. The saloon is as commodious as any you will find on a boat of this size, with a large dinette, comfortable seating, useful tables and storage areas, and a large expanse of open floor.

This will be a great boat for a larger family or for a couple that likes to entertain in harbor. The nav station is a true offshore skipper’s haven, where he or she can mount all the electronics wanted or needed and can control all of the ship’s systems. The galley opposite lies in the passage aft to the master cabin. You will find all of the counter space, storage and kitchen equipment you need to prepare meals for parties of six or even more. Galleys like this are wonderful at sea since there is always a place to brace a hip or knee, and always a fiddle or handhold to steady yourself.

The interior fit and finish is as finely honed as you will see on any custom yacht. Oyster can accommodate a wide range of custom interior options and always works with owners to create a yacht to suit their needs as closely as possible. It is no wonder that Oyster can boast (but seldom does) that they count among their owners many self-reliant, successful captains of industry who never settle for anything but the very best.

BWS THOUGHTS

The evolutionary Oyster 575, like her earlier sisterships, will be a manageable world cruiser for a couple or family. The powerful hull and tall rig combine to offer a high degree of stability and a creditable level of sailing performance. The 575 will be able to maintain very high average speeds at sea and will deliver her crew back to port better rested than when they left. BWS looks forward to sea trialing the new 575 later this year.

OYSTER 575LOA 57’6”LWL51’6”Beam 16’5”Draft (standard) 8’10”Draft (shoal) 6’10”Draft (CB) 5’5”/12’6”Displacement 61,728 lbs.Fuel 250 gals.Water 250 gals.Engine 130hp dieselSail Area 2,091 sq. ft.SA/D 20.8D/L 200EUR/CD Cat. AOffice: Oyster MarineIpswich, Suffolk, EnglandPh: +44-(0)1473-688-888Website: www.oystermarine.comE-mail: info@oysteryachts.com

USA Office: Oyster Marine USANewport, RIPh: 401-846-7400E-mail: info@oysteryachts.com

OYSTER 655 OFFSHORE •On a 300-mile offshore delivery, BWS discovers (again) why Oysters set the standard for world-class passagemakers.

The Rob Humphries-designed hull has a fairly narrow bow and her lines run aft very straight and true to her broad transom. There’s nothing extreme in the boat’s dimensions. The standard hull, like Matchmaker, has a 60-foot waterline; a modern, bulbed-fin keel with a nine-foot, eight-inch draft; and a large rudder mounted on a small skeg. The standard rig stands 90 feet above the water and spreads 2,830 square feet of cruising canvas (the full 150-percent genoa included).

The non-dimensional ratios show that the 655 is a thoroughly modern cruising boat with the power to sail well in light conditions as well as in the bumpy 20 knots we had off New York. The displacement-to-length ratio is 182, which puts it in the “performance-cruiser” category. But the 655 is no lightweight skimmer; the boat feels and sails like a solid passagemaker, yet is always easy to steer and is pleasantly responsive to the helm and sail trim.The boat’s sail area-displacement ratio of 22.58 is quite high among the offshore cruising fleet. But, with the optional in-mast or in-boom furling mainsail and hydraulic furling headsails, you can dial in the exact amount of sail area you need to balance the boat and maintain optimum boat speed.Matchmaker has an optional 98-foot carbon rig with in-mast mainsail furling, so we were able to adjust the mainsail’s sail area and flatness throughout the first night without having to leave the cockpit or wake the off-watch crew. The advantage of the carbon spar lies in the weight reduction aloft, which in turn reduces the boat’s pitching motion in head seas and rolling motion when running in big rolling swells; plus, the carbon rig makes the boat stiffer and able to sail slightly closer to the wind than her sisterships with aluminum spars.The 655 cruised at a steady 9 knots all night, so daybreak found us closing in on the New Jersey shore. The cold front associated with the wind shift to the southeast blew through that morning and brought with it blustery and shifting winds. With shortened sails, we made landfall and were lucky enough (or smart enough) to catch the favorable flooding tide all the way from Cape May to the C&D canal.In fact, the tides favored us all the way to Annapolis. We caught the favorable ebb through the canal and that carried us to the Bay Bridge. But, it was coming onto low water when we got to Back Creek and we had a gingerly moment as we coasted Matchmaker’s nine-foot draft over the shallow spot at the creek’s entrance. We made it without a bump. We had completed the passage from Newport to Annapolis in nearly record time, with Matchmaker averaging just over 9 knots for the trip. Plus, we arrived better rested than when we left, despite a bouncy night at sea.

LIVING ABOARDThe 655, like her sisterships, is a semi-custom boat that is built in a female mold. The interior spaces are defined by the structural bulkheads, deck, floors, tank and engineering installations. Oyster offers standard layouts, and most owners will select one of these with their own minor modifications. That said, Oyster can go farther than most builders to modify an interior to fit an owner’s specific requirements.On a recent visit to two facilities in England where Oysters are built, BWS had a chance to see the modern state of craftsmanship that goes into every Oyster. The managers and craftsmen who build the boats have, in many instances, been building Oysters for two decades, so a legacy of Oyster-quality is passed onto each new apprentice and employee.Each boat and owner is guided through the build process by a project manager who takes care of the liaison with the builders. These managers have the sailing experience to know what works on a cruising boat and the building experience to know what is possible and practical. In the end, the project managers ensure that the owners get what they want and what they pay for.The 655 was designed to be an elegant family cruising boat that sails well enough to win offshore events, yet is easy enough to handle for a competent couple or small crew.The boat’s walk-through cockpit, which is similar to the cockpit on the 72, has twin wheels. The traffic flow in and out of the cockpit is great, and the sailing crew has plenty of room for trimming and managing sheets. The cockpit table is huge and will seat six or more for an alfresco meal.

The raised deckhouse over the saloon has a modern style, and the large, tinted windows have the look of ultra-modern, sporty sunglasses. This is a style that has been emulated by several builders in recent years because it is so distinctive and opens up the interior spaces with abundant natural light.

Climbing down the companionway ladder, which is equipped with curved stainless steel rails, you enter the saloon, with its large L-shaped dining area to starboard and a bench settee to port. There are several ways to design the dining arrangements and the table so owners will be able to tweak the saloon to fit their needs.

655 owners can tweak the saloon’s set-up to suit their needs.

The nav station is just aft of the companionway to starboard and down two steps. This large space has plenty of desk area for working with charts and computers, plus the vertical surfaces you need to mount radios, screen and instruments. The ergonomics of the nav station work so well that you will feel comfortable sitting here and navigating even when the boat is heeled to port.

The huge, gourmet-style galley is a chef’s dream.

Opposite the nav station is the huge, gourmet-style galley. The 655 will be a great party boat, and party central will be the galley where you and your mates will have the counter space and locker storage for preparing elaborate meals. But the area is also a proper seagoing galley where you can brace a hip or wedge yourself neatly while preparing meals in a real ocean seaway.

The master stateroom aft is reached via the hallway from the nav station. Outboard of the hall is a small double-bunk cabin that will be great at sea and for children while cruising. Access to the engine room is through two doors that open in the hall right onto the business side of the engine so you will be able to check fluids and change the oil easily. The space is large enough for all of the ship’s engineering systems—and for humans to move around them for routine maintenance.

The master stateroom’s queen-size double berth, built-in sofa and ample storage.

The master stateroom has a queen-size double berth on the centerline with large drawers and storage spaces beneath it. To starboard, there is a small built-in sofa and a large hanging locker. To port, the en suite head offers a large bathroom with a separate shower stall. This master suite will be a great home away from home for a cruising couple.

The two guest cabins forward offer a Pullman double to starboard and bunk-berths to port; both cabins have their own heads. Crew’s quarters can be built in forward of the guest cabins, or the space can be reserved for sail and gear storage.The fit and finish of the 655, like her sisterships, is completed to the highest quality with the best materials. Interiors can be designed and fitted with various veneers and a selection of hardware and lighting. The net result will be living spaces with windows, lights, fabrics, shades and hardware that all work together to create the ambience an owner wants.

The 655 sails well in all condition. BWS THOUGHTSWe have sailed Oysters many thousands of miles over the years and have seen the boats evolve as the design team continues to refine designs with innovative solutions. With hundreds of loyal owners sailing the world’s oceans while remaining staunch members of the Oyster family, the design and marketing teams have a vast storehouse of practical knowledge to draw upon, which guides their new design development.The 655 follows in the wake of the popular 66 but incorporates innovations refined in the 72 and other recent boats. The result is a thoroughly modern offshore cruiser that is capable of sailing anywhere in the world while offering her owners and crew a floating home that is both elegant and extremely well thought out for passagemaking and the cruising lifestyle.BWS’s 300-mile jaunt down the Northeast coast of the U.S. gave us an appreciation for the quality and heritage built into each Oyster, which in turn gave us complete confidence in the boat. And, when the wind is piping on the nose and the seas building, that confidence is what every veteran sailor really looks for in an ocean-going boat.Oyster 655LOA                                 67’7”LOD                                 65’6”LWL                                 59’6”Beam                               18’5”Draft (std.)                      9’8”Draft (shoal)                   7’3”Draft (CB-up)                 6’0”Draft (CB- down)          14’1”Displacement                 85,980 lbs.Fuel                                  502 gals.Water                               409 gals.Sail area                           2,830 sq. ftOyster Marine USANewport, RIPh: 401-846-7400U.S. e-mail: info@oysteryachts.comU.K. e-mail: yachts@oystermarine.comWebsite: www.oystermarine.com

Oyster 53 •

Sailing into headwinds of 18 to 22 knots in the shallow waters off of northern Florida is never all that much fun, particularly with an easterly swell pounding you on the beam. However, what normally would have been a grueling and aggravating 48 hours was instead a real test of performance that gave us the opportunity to see the Oyster 53 live up to expectations.

We were now into our second week of an extended delivery from Newport, R.I., to Key West, Fla. After leaving Newport in a cool northerly breeze of less than 10 knots we had motorsailed for a little over 50 hours, with the 100- horsepower turbo diesel Yanmar pushing us on at a comfortable eight knots, the RPMs never lifting much over 3,500. We were sailing with Eric Bell, Lady Tara’s captain, Tom Evans and Matt Reinhardt. Watch rotation had never been easier or more comfortable, with ample hours to sleep, read or watch satellite TV, depending on your preference. For a sailor who grew up cruising many miles with few creature comforts, there was no complaining.

Hourly weather reports came in by e-mail, and as a low formed off of Cape Hatteras we decided to pull in to Hampton Roads, Va., to wait it out. Dockside, the Oyster 53’s living accommodations, with four sleeping cabins and two heads complete with showers, were far from cramped for the four of us, another testament to the Oyster Design Team, which has created an interior layout suited to extended periods of living on board, with little or no need to run ashore.

Tim Catches Dinner

Setting out once more, we sailed south with a breeze of 10 to 12 knots at our backs. With a full main and genoa, and an engine used only for the daily charge of batteries, we easily made 200 miles per day. Heading off the wind, the Oyster 53 proved a quick and stable platform, with a full form aft that increases stability and allows the rudder to work more efficiently. Lady Tara has the optional shoal draft keel and shorter mast for Intracoastal Waterway cruising, yet the boat stood up well and tracked nicely. It was apparent that the design would be extremely comfortable in trade-wind type sailing, benefiting from the hands-on practice of industry leader Rob Humphreys and his team of engineers.

Oyster Marine has more than 1,000 sailboats (and many more dedicated customers) out cruising the waters of the world, which is not surprising when you consider how their superior design and craftsmanship have lead them to the top of the pack for semicustom offshore-capable yachts.

The Oyster name is synonymous with a symbiosis of quality construction, comfort, safety and performance. The Oyster Design Team, led by Humphreys, has continued to produce some of the best cruising sailboats available. It was not until we had the opportunity this past fall to sail over 1,400 miles offshore in the Oyster 53 Lady Tara that this reputation would actually come to have real meaning.

THE DESIGN
The Oyster 53 is the culmination of Oyster Marine’s years of experience in developing worldclass cruising boats and benefits from cutting-edge techniques employed in design and manufacturing. The 53 gives its owners a versatile yacht that inspires confidence when conditions deteriorate, is suitable for accomplished or novice sailors alike and is above all very comfortable.

Building on the precedent of the Oyster 56, the 53 is a cruising boat that integrates style with functionality. Its stylish outboard profile is coupled with an ergonomically designed cockpit, using technical specifications from the Department of Ergonomics at Loughborough University in England. The hull and deck are made from hand-laid glassfiber reinforced polyester (GRP), allowing for strength as well as moderate hull displacement, with the outer hull laminated in Vinylester resin. It is not surprising that Oyster offers an incredible threeyear warranty on the GRP below the waterline.

The external lead fin keel is fitted with a high-performance bulb, which reduces drag and increases stability and lift. While sailing both off and on the wind, in conditions on both angles of from 10 to 22 knots of true wind, Lady Tara easily carried her course, allowing the autopilot to work with minimal strain.

Hardened up to close hauled, the 53 sailed easily at 45 degrees and could pinch to 40 without much loss in speed. With 48,000 pounds of displacement, and the ballast concentrated in the bulb of the fin keel, Lady Tara tacked smoothly and stood up well to puffs of up to 25 knots. In the steep broken seas of four to six feet off of Florida, her low center of gravity, high topsides and semiplumb bow provided a comfortable and dry ride, considering the conditions. The protected skeghung rudder gives the 53 ample steering control with minimal weather helm.

RIG AND DECK
The Humphreys team was instrumental in creating a design that maximizes the compatibility of hull shape and displacement with the rig format. The sloop rig is standard but can be changed to a cutter sail plan for increased ease of use. Total sail area is 1,300 square feet, which provides a sail area displacement ratio of 19.29, giving you a comfortable range to either scale up or down.

In the heaviest weather encountered on our delivery south, with 25 knots on the nose, we were most comfortable with a 50- to 70-percent reduced main and 75-percent reduced genoa, which still provided exceptional stability and speed over ground of seven knots.

Oyster 53 Reaching

Oyster provides superior quality rigging as standard, with silver-anodized Seldén alloy vang strut, Lewmar blocks, Harken headsail furling systems and Dolphin Sails for the headsail and mainsail. Lady Tara utilized a furling mainsail system by Formula, which only added to the ease-of-use factor and did not noticeably diminish performance.

Mainsheet and headsail sheets all run back to Lewmar self-tailing electric winches in the center cockpit, allowing for easy sail trim while on deck alone. The cockpit itself has been designed to seat six adults and has a table large enough for comfortable dining.

Aft, there is also a self-draining life raft locker and a large lazarette on the stern deck for storage. Storage space on deck, an essential feature for safe passagemaking, is in no short supply, with lockers on the stern deck and in the bow. The cored deck and coach roof are all finished with teak.

The stantions, mast guards and deck cleats are all stainless steel, and with a natural teak toe rail, maintenance is moderate for a boat of this size. Overall, the 53 has a clean deck, well run sheets, ample storage and minimal maintenance requirements, allowing for an uncluttered, good looking and functional cruising boat.

INTERIOR
Oyster has made full use of its designers, engineers and design technology in developing the layout options for the 53. Lady Tara utilized the four-cabin option, with a generous aft cabin with private head, an upper-lower twin cabin on the port side aft of the nav station, upper-lower twin cabin and head at midships and a double cabin forward. There is the option of converting the aft upperlower cabin into a workshop, and the forward upper-lower cabin and the forward dou-ble berth can be configured side by side with the head/shower forward of that and a large sail locker in the bow.

Bright Saloon

The deck saloon, a signature of Oyster yachts, takes full advantage of the boat’s 15 foot, threeinch beam and with windows that open for ventilation provides a comfortable refuge in almost all conditions. The walk-through galley, leading back to the aft cabin, is well suited for offshore sailing, has plenty of ventilation and not only has a full vertically standing refrigerator but a full ice box as well.

With the nav station laid out to accept an array of electronics, such as the VHF and GPS/chartplotter interface, and a chart table on the port side immediately below the companionway, there is good accessibility to and from the deck, and with the dodger in place there is little chance, even when waves are breaking over the foredeck, of sea water getting below.

The dinette in the saloon is large, with capacity for six around the starboard table and room for two more on a port side love seat. All of this is finished in a choice of oak, teak or maple joinery, with cherry also available, which is what we had on Lady Tara.

The 53 carries 198 gallons of water, an ample supply for days at sea, and with the addition of a watermaker, you can enjoy a shower at sea (with pressurized hot and cold water) and still have plenty left over for cooking and drinking. While we carried bottled water on the Lady Tara for drinking, we could easily have done without.

SYSTEMS
At the heart of the Oyster 53’s integrated systems lies the engine room, which has a 100-horsepower turbo diesel Yanmar with a saildrive leading to a three-blade feathering Max-Prop. The engine room is easily accessible through a compartment in the aft upperlower cabin and even when powering around 3,800 RPMs proved relatively quiet.

Oyster 53 Galley

With 225 gallons of diesel and a range of around 750 miles under power, the 53 will allow you to travel wherever you want to go. On Lady Tara, we opted to carry three 30-gallon drums on deck for added security, not a bad idea when passing through unpredict-able weather systems. But for much of the second half of the trip, we could easily have done without the spare fuel. It should be noted that while we had this extra weight lashed down on the aft deck, there was little impact on steering performance due to the stability of the 53’s profile in the fuller form aft section.

The engine and generator charge the deep-cycle batteries in cells of six volts, with the standard 24-volt DC for her electric systems. There is also an additional 150- amp, 24-volt heavy duty alternator, and overall, the 53 has enough power to run many of her systems simultaneously while underway, an added bonus for offshore sailing, where we often have to trade our comforts for functionality. This ample power system is testament to the intelligent and informed design of the Oyster team, which obviously understands the balance needed between needs and wants and how successfully doing so translates to a more enjoyable sailing experience.

BWS THOUGHTS
Oyster 53 SpecsFor over 30 years, Oyster Marine has been producing some of the world’s best semi-custom cruising boats. Evident in the large number of owners who return to Oyster for their new boats, some 50 percent of their customers are repeat owners, Oyster has developed a brand that is hard to match. By using the talents of such industry- leading designers as Humphreys and his team, incorporating cutting-edge design technology and superior craftsmanship in construction, Oyster has become the boat of choice for serious blue-water sailors.

The Oyster 53 is no exception. Lady Tara handled herself well in all conditions, proving to be a fast, safe and comfortable ride whether motorsailing in 10 knots of breeze or pounding into steep swells with 20 knots on the nose. The sleek profile below the water with the wind tunnel–tested fin keel and lead bulb, the fuller form aft section and the well designed rig give her balance and stability, while the skeg rudder gives her a well balanced helm. When you realize that this performance is coupled with the amenities and comforts of larger yachts, storage suitable for true offshore sailing and an intelligent and spacious interior layout, you realize that this boat was designed to take you around the world in style.

Oyster Marine is led by experienced and accomplished yachtsmen, which means they understand how to imagine, design and build boats that have real value to serious sailors. With Richard Matthews at the helm and management that has accumulated some of sailing’s top awards, Oyster Marine has earned such prestigious awards as the Queen’s Award in England, giving owners confidence that their Oyster purchase has brought them into the Oyster family, where quality design, construction and service is paramount. For oceangoing, blue-water vessels, you can do no better.

LOA 53’10″
LWL 45’7″
Beam 15’3″
Draft (standard) 7’3.5″
Draft (shoal) 6′
Displ. (in sailing trim) 48,000 lbs.
Sail area 1,300 sq. ft.
SA/Displ. 19.29
D/L 225
Engine 100-hp. Yanmar
Fuel 225 gals.
Water 185 gals.
Price $1,545,000

Oyster Marine
Oyster Marine Ltd.
Fox’s Marina
Ipswich, Suffolk
IP2 8SA, UK
+44(0)1473 688888
Email: web.enquiries@oystermarine.com

Oyster Marine USA
Newport Shipyard
One Washington St.
Newport, RI 02840
401-846-7400
Email: info@oysteryachts.com

www.oystermarine.com

Oyster 49 •

Oyster makes no bones about the fact that the company builds high-end yachts for a high-end market in which quality comes at a price and the people who seek it aren’t shy about paying for the privilege. The brand-new Oyster 49 is born of that tradition, an immaculate blue-water performer developed to provide top sailing capability and copious amenity in a semi-custom package that radiates quality and polish.

The boat was designed in-house by Rob Humphreys and the Oyster Design Team. Logically it follows in the wake of the successful Oyster 485, a 1994 Holman & Pye creation that remains to this day an especially popular member of the Oyster range (see “Transatlantic Shakedown,” BWS October 1998). Notable differences brought aboard the new 49 include a measurably improved Displacement/Length ratio (243 for the 49 versus 302 for the 485), and the elaborate if subtle development of ergonomic curves and contours throughout the deck and cockpit superstructure, a design theme introduced in the Oyster 56 and Oyster 53 projects preceding this one.

Thirty years in business and over 1,200 boats delivered give Oyster Marine a uniquely credible footing in an industry continually put to the test by the sea that harbors its products and the customers who rely on them for safety and the fulfillment of their voyaging dreams. It’s easy to step aboard an Oyster at the dock and be impressed by the quality of construction and the lushness of its execution; it is important to consider in a broader sense, however, that the company’s niche is an oceangoing one, with a track record in recent years to bear that out.

Founder and chairman of Oyster Marine Richard Matthews caught the bug three decades ago with a victory in Britain’s East Coast Offshore Championship aboard the Hustler 25.5 UFO. He commissioned Holman & Pye to design a prototype 34-foot cruiser/racer in the mid-1970s, of which 150 would be sold, and following that he embarked on a string of level-rated and IOR-derived cruiser/racers through which he established for himself—and for Oyster in the process—a formidable offshore presence. To date, Matthews has sailed 15 Fastnets, won two trans-atlantics, taken the Royal Yacht Squadron’s Britannia Cup twice, and collected silver at the SORC—these among a host of other accomplishments too numerous to list here.

Upon the launching of the Oyster 46 in 1980, the company shifted its emphasis to the semi-production cruising boats with which it is identified today. The seagoing imperative has been preserved and in fact you could argue that Oysters now predominate the modern blue-water cruising rally scene, from the Europa Around the World Rally to the Trade Winds Round the World Rally to the venerable Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), in which over 100 Oysters have participated in recent years. The Oyster 49 represents one of a dozen or so current Oyster models ranging in size from 42 to 100 feet, all of which incorporate Oyster’s signature Deck Saloon configuration marked by a center cockpit that enters into an open main cabin on a raised floor with wide wraparound windows and an enhanced airy interior.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
The overall concept by Rob Hum-phreys emphasizes a lanky hull with a powerful raked bow, a subdued, low-profile superstructure, and a modern reverse-transom stern sporting a recessed boarding platform. The underwater profile shows fairly deep sections developed well forward incorporating maximum deadrise in the area of the keel. The keel itself is a medium-aspect GRP fin carrying its ballast payload in what Oyster calls a “high-performance bulb” (HPB). Underwater sections taper up to the stern, where a stainless-steel-reinforced fiberglass skeg supports a deep rudder blade. Forward sections are fine, with max beam achieved well aft around station four.

The fullness of the underbody along with the depth and fineness of the bow contribute to excellent sea-keeping potential and deviate somewhat from familiar ultra-modern notions of flat sections and reduced deadrise. The payoff, of course, includes an easygoing motion at sea and increased interior volume. Certainly the boat is not designed to be a skimming dish and this should come as a relief to anyone whose priorities include a comfortable ride offshore. As noted the 49 enjoys a Displacement/Length mark of 243—light by most standards for a vessel as lavishly outfitted as this—and that is great news because it indicates an easily-driven package with a good shot at slippery acceleration.

Humphreys has drawn a fairly high-aspect, cutter-optimized sloop rig for the boat with a lot of emphasis on the versatility of the foretriangle. The 49’s 135-percent furling genoa may be augmented by an optional furling staysail on an intermediate forestay to give you a variety of alternatives for working canvas and storm sails forward. The standard rig is a sloop, with the furling cutter stay just described or a remove-able inner forestay with a hank-on jib as options. The furling cutter option requires checkstays or possibly jumper struts, according to Oyster.
There is a lot of horsepower in the big jib and obviously it is a good thing to be able to shorten sail without having to rely on rolling it in and using a tortured corner of it in a breeze, the bane of too many sloops. The boat’s Sail Area/Displacement figure of 13.8, seemingly low, is deceptive in this context because it is calculated on the basis of the mainsail plus 100 percent of the foretriangle. Given the added sail area represented by a second sail forward and a big overlapping genoa, the sailplan outperforms that number handily. Oyster uses the mainsail plus 150 percent of the foretriangle in their SA/D calculations, which confers a healthy ratio of 17.9.

A LIVABLE CONCEPT
The accommodations package below is open to some degree of cus-tomization, as the aim of Oyster is to work with the owner on the development of a proper interior plan. BWS spent time aboard hull number three, outfitted in American white oak which, as advertised, brightens things up in every cabin, especially the saloon in conjunction with all those windows. Cherry and teak are available optionally. Detailing is subtle but effective, highlighting the effort by Oyster to make a statement about the refinement of its joinery while keeping the look clean and anything but fussy. Paneled doors, for example, are shadow-gapped at their joints to accent the texture of the panels themselves; fiddles and grabrails are sculpted in place; cabin soles feature checkerboard teak veneer floor panels, outlined at the edge with a crisp black perimeter line inlay. You are pleasantly aware of these accents but you are not bombarded by them. Lighting is by way of 32 recessed Xenon headliner spots, with inciden-tal reading fixtures installed where applicable.

The standard layout provides for six sleeping berths in three separate cabins, not including the main saloon, which is set up for casual lounging. There are two heads—one aft, private to the owner’s cabin, which includes a separate stand-up shower stall, and the other forward, accessed for general use, with an integrated stand-up shower; both are fully sumped and accented with Swanstone wash basins and Avonite counters. The owner’s cabin all the way aft features an off-center island double berth with a split mattress on sprung battens. It is fitted with three lee cloths as standard, as are the other sea berths in the boat. There is an upholstered seat in a niche to starboard that has become, on hull number three, an office cubby. The head is to starboard, while on the port side is a large hanging locker and entry-exit through the galley.

The galley stretches longitudinally along the port side beneath the companionway in the passageway forward to the saloon. It is convenient to the saloon from a congenial point of view but separate, at the same time, in a formal sense. It includes a gimballed Force 10 four-burner stove/oven, double sinks, a large front-opening fridge and a top-opening freezer unit. Up a step and you’re in the main cabin, airy and open with its copious seven-pane expanse of glass and its panoramic view to the outside. A three-person settee resides to port, while a six-person wraparound settee opposes it to starboard with a folding dinette that expands to include the entire width of the cabin for a well-attended gathering. Beneath the companionway to starboard and down a step is a nav and communications center in a dedicated niche.

Moving in the general direction of the bow, you step from the saloon down into a passageway that leads to a stateroom to starboard with two single bunks up and down, opposed by the forward head to port, culminating in the boat’s double V-berth fully forward. The bow section can be treated as two discreet living quarters as presented here, or developed as a single, quite sizeable suite. Either way, it leaves the owner’s cabin in the stern completely private, leaves the galley and communal areas amidships fully open and within reach of an accessible head, and provides for a functional expansion of living, storage and sleeping space.

Minor changes in level—essentially one step down to the forward accommodations, and one step down to the galley and accommodations aft—are a dynamic aspect of the raised-saloon configuration, creating an interior plan with variety and organic movement, not to mention the preservation of headroom in the ends. Features such as this keep you on your toes; they also make the interior of the 49 a unique experience, more interesting and thought-provoking than the standard cookie-cutter three-cabin layout seen on the majority of mainstream boats.

CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS AND MECHANICAL
Oyster’s commitment to building boats with unfailing strength has led the yard to a cautious if conservative mindset with regard to materials, and a meticulous, highly technical approach to execution. The 49 features a solid-glass, single-skin hull, laminated by hand using Lloyd’s approved isoph-thalic gelcoat and laminating resin along with a varied assortment of woven glass products and powder-bound matts. Kevlar can be applied, if desired, in various locations beneath the waterline for added strength and impact resistance. The basis for a single-skin lay-up lies in the desire to go with what’s proven—pure and simple. Says Oyster, “We are aware of the apparent advantages of lightweight, cored construction but…we are also very aware of potential problems, especially in the later life of a vessel.” Needless to say, this speaks volumes to the view taken by the builder with regard to other aspects of the boat’s fabrication.

The teak-laid deck is molded in GRP with balsa core applied for stiffness and insulation. In load-bearing areas or where fittings are secured, the core is replaced with marine plywood. Aluminum backing plates accept all thru-bolts. The hull-to-deck joint involves a return flange inboard of the hull to which the deck is sealed, bolted on 12-inch centers, and glassed underneath. The hull itself is reinforced with massive athwartship members fabricated of solid glass, and further stiffened by way of bulkheads and architectural elements bonded to the hull and the underside of the deck. The boat is solid as a rock to walk on, jump on, and sail aboard. Ensuring that experience, all removable floor panels in the cabin sole are flush-fitted and seated on flexible rubber gaskets to eliminate the mere possibility of any creaking when stepped on or under way.

One of the advantages of a raised-deck saloon of course is the ability to use the space beneath the cabin sole for larger, heavier equipment items and tankage; given the deep underwater profile of the 49, this feature is enhanced. Oyster has used the space diligently, fitting 218 gallons of water and 231 gallons of fuel in single, easily accessed tanks beneath the saloon sole port and starboard. Amidships is the yacht’s DC 24-volt electrical supply, a bank of four heavy-duty, deep-cycle, six-volt Vartas delivering 230 amp-hours for house use, well ventilated and equipped with an exhaust fan for safety when charging. Two separate 12-volt 88-amp-hour batteries are devoted to engine starting. The battery installation is solid, secure and clean as a whistle.

The engine—a Yanmar 4JH3-TE, four-cylinder, 75-hp diesel—sits beneath the companionway, easily accessed by way of a large opening door in the nav station to starboard, along with removable panels forward behind the stairway and to port by way of the galley. It spins a three-blade feathering Max-Prop by way of Aqua-drive couplings and sits on cushy Aquadrive flexible mounts. Everything engine-related is well organized and within reach, a hallmark of this boat that describes all the major systems aboard. “You can take the boat to bits if you want to,” says the new CEO at Oyster USA Robin Campbell, alluding to the notion that so many owners of vessels this size and smaller tend to become do-it-yourselfers, which places a premium on the accessibility of mechanical and electrics and the clarity of their installation.

Separate conduits run through the boat for AC, DC and electronics/data. Every sea cock, hose, plumbing valve, pump, service panel, filter and the like is carefully labeled and secured at an inspection point. Every wire is numbered. The owner’s manual aboard the 49 is a hardback multi-part document with schematics, service info, equipment rosters, effusive diagrams, and a list of every single wire aboard, compiled for each boat individually. The complexity of a million-dollar sailboat is nothing to be taken lightly;

BWS went aboard this one half expecting to be swallowed up in it, only to find the execution logical, easy to decipher, easy to get at, well annotated, and clear as a bell. Oyster has gone to great lengths to bring the 49 in all its abundance down to a practical, serviceable, human scale.

BWS THOUGHTS
Our sail aboard Oyster 49 hull number three came at the tail end of a weak frontal passage on Rhode Island’s Naragansett Bay, in winds that varied from 15 to 18 knots in the first hours of the outing to 10 knots and variable at the end of the day. Going upwind into a solid 22 to 25 knots apparent, we sheeted the genoa hard with the
assistance of the boat’s Lewmar 64 self-tailing electric primaries. We tacked easily through 85 to 90 degrees on the compass, and in puffy conditions maintained respectable boatspeed in the high sevens—this, with a furling mainsail set, the notion being that a convenional-hoist battened main would improve those numbers further. There was notable acceleration out of the tacks, and steering response by way of the Whitlock Monarch cable-and-quadrant system was positive and immediate.
The 49 moves along with assurance once the true wind gets up above 12 knots or so; as the breeze over the deck moves into the 16- to 17-knot range, she heels a bit, puts the rail down and goes. Downwind the boat balances nicely. Coaxing the genoa to windward and slipping along wing-and-wing is just where she wants to be as the breeze goes aft. The midship cockpit provides terrific visibility forward, offers congenial interaction with the main cabin just below it, and frees up the deck aft at the fantail.

We have not had the opportunity to enjoy the 49 on an extended offshore passage—yet—but given the blue-water context of Oyster yachts in general, and given the time we were able to pour through and sail this one, it is easy to make the leap and recommend it for transoceanic voyaging. With the guidance of Oyster’s Stateside CEO Camp-bell, project manager Nick Creed and after sales support manager Will White, we pulled up cabin sole and settee panels throughout the boat, dug through lazarettes and deck lockers, peered into mechanical compartments and played with expensive equipment. Certainly from a technical point of view, the package is expertly assembled, which is to say that all working components have dedicated locations, that systems are organized and documented for service convenience, and that accessibility is a given.

As a pure sailing yacht, the 49 is tempered without being overly con-servative. Designer Humphreys has hit upon a blend of sophisticated sailing ability and seakindly hullform, in keeping with the contemporary Oyster vernacular. It is modern and anything but traditional, especially below, but solid in concept and execution—simply, designed to go to sea with a bit of luxury in tow. At just under 50 feet, it speaks persuasively to the voyager with means and an enthusiastic hands-on approach to boat ownership con-templating the three-year, circle-the-world plan.

Hull length 48’10” (14.87 m.)
LWL 43’10” (13.35 m.)
Beam 15’0” (4.58 m.)
Draft (std. bulb) 7’3” (2.21 m.)
Draft (opt. shoal bulb) 6’0” (1.83 m.)
Ballast 12,235 lbs. (5,550 kgs.)
Displ. 45,745 lbs. (20,750 kgs.)
SA (100%) 1,102 sq. ft. (102.4 sq. m.)
SA (150%) 1,460 sq. ft. (135.8 sq. m.)
Mast above water 67’7” (20.6 m.)
Ballast/Displ. 27%
Displ./Length 243
SA/Displ. (at 100%) 13.8
SA/Displ. (at 150%) 17.9
Fuel 231 gal. (880 ltr.)
Water 218 gal. (830 ltr.)
Auxiliary Yanmar 4JH3-TE, 4-cyl, 75-hp
Designer Rob Humphreys
Interior Oyster Design Team
Base Price $1,015,000
(FOB Newport, RI)

Oyster Marine Ltd
Fox’s Marina
Ipswich, Suffolk IP2 8SA
England
Ph: +44 (0) 1473 688888

Oyster Marine USA
5 Marina Plaza
Goat Island
Newport, RI 02840
Ph: 401-846-7400